Until September 2025, I was a runner.

Parkruns, 10Ks, half marathons, even the London Marathon. I completed them all (with the occasional bit of walking thrown in!), and I loved every mile. Running gave me freedom. It kept me fit, helped keep my joints moving, and played a huge role in keeping my fibromyalgia flare-ups under control.

Then my health took a sudden turn for the worse.

What started as occasional wheelchair use has gradually become full-time whenever I leave the house. I've undergone countless tests, scans, and X-rays, but so far nobody has been able to explain the rapid decline affecting my spine and hips.

The impact has been devastating. Simply leaving the house now feels like a military operation. Being out for more than a few hours requires careful planning and a huge amount of energy. Because of that, I rarely go out anymore. Not because I don't want to, but because finding the motivation can be so difficult when every trip comes with so many challenges.

But I'm not ready to give up.

This month, I finally found a second-hand Flying Start racing wheelchair, lovingly named Ophelia. She needs a little TLC before she's race-ready, but for the first time in a long time, I feel excited about the future.

My goal is simple: to get back to racing next year.

There's a lot of training ahead, and Ophelia needs a few essential repairs and upgrades before we can hit the road together. None of the individual costs are huge, but they quickly add up.

If you're able to help, no matter how small the contribution, it would make an incredible difference.

This isn't just about racing. It's about reclaiming my independence, improving both my physical and mental health, and rediscovering the sense of freedom that sport once gave me.

I may not be able to walk far or stand for long, but I refuse to let that stop me from crossing a finish line again.

Thank you for reading, for sharing, and for supporting me on this journey. ❤️